Creative Industries Funding: Film

Toronto’s film, music and creative technology (video games, immersive, XR, esports) industries contribute greatly to Toronto’s economy and help reinforce the city’s status as a creative leader on a global scale. To support growth in these creative industries, the City of Toronto offers grants and sponsorships that make pathways to employment more accessible, expand business opportunities for creative entrepreneurs and showcase Toronto’s industries to engage residents, visitors and the world. 

The funding below focuses on supporting film, television and other screen sectors initiatives that align with the Action Plan for Toronto's Culture.

Contact the relevant industry sector office for questions or concerns regarding timelines. 
Eligible Project Start Dates Deadline to Apply
Application Timelines
April 1 to December 31 February 1
July 1 to December 31 May 1
October to December 31 August 1
January 1 to June 30 (of the following year) November 15

After submitting an application, you may be asked by staff for additional information. Staff may also suggest that you re-submit application for a later intake period for consideration.

Skills Development Grants support initiatives that build practical skills in trades, crafts or technical skills for which there are existing labour gaps.

Eligible Initiatives

Initiatives must support employment readiness for individuals, matching skills to high-demand roles in creative sectors. These grants often, but not exclusively, support the work of not-for-profit community groups led by and/or serving historically underrepresented groups and the programs they offer to build bridges to employment in creative industries.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Upskilling or cross‑training for mid‑career crew
  • Training in post‑production, VFX, animation and related digital workflows
  • Programs designed with and for equity‑deserving communities and creatives that bridge participants into paid placements, mentorships or entry‑level crew and post‑production opportunities.

Eligible Organizations

Organizations must:

  • Be located in Toronto or the proposed project or services to be funded will be delivered to Toronto-based entities or individuals.
  • Not be indebted to the City or in default of any agreements with the City.
  • Be a legal not-for-profit or charitable organization, an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization or community centre that is part of the Association of Community Centres.

Ineligible Initiatives

This funding does not support:

  • Production companies of filmmakers seeking financing
  • Hiring crew or staff for ongoing operations of private production companies or studios
  • Artistic or talent development for individual artists or performers
  • Production of creative or artistic works.

For support for these ineligible initiatives, explore the variety of funding offered by Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Creates, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund.

Initiative Accountability Criteria

Be prepared to describe in detail how the outcome/impact of your initiative will be measured and the metrics you intend to provide to the City if funded.

Accountability criteria will be included in the funding agreement for each successful grant applicant. The metrics must be tracked throughout the initiative and reported at its conclusion to receive the final grant payment.

Suggested metrics:

  • Number of participants served
  • Equity-related metrics
  • Participant satisfaction assessment
  • Engagement of industry through placements, employment or other metrics relevant to the goals of the program
  • Further metrics may be developed on a case-by-case basis or to measure program efficacy over time.

      How to Apply

      Submit an application online below. Applications are considered several times throughout the year. All applications must be submitted through the online portal.

      Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of their proposed event or program start date; however, priority may be given to projects with more immediate start dates. Depending on application volume and project timelines, complete applications may be deferred to a subsequent intake for consideration.

      Only one application per program or event will be considered for each calendar year.

      Available funding is limited and most grants are small. If your project or event is larger in scope and requires more significant funding, please contact the relevant sector office to discuss the project and possible support from these or other funds.

      After your application is submitted, you will be contacted by the related sector office if clarification or additional information is desired. Decisions will generally be communicated within four weeks and decisions are final.

      Apply for Skills Development Grant

      Application Assessment

      Priority is given to organizations that can demonstrate the following criteria:

      • Equity, diversity and inclusion
      • The potential of the program to generate career impact for individuals and the efficacy of the program in serving industry labour demand
      • The capacity of the organization to deliver the program applied for, financially and in terms of human resources, and the organization’s track record and connection to the industries.

      Sector Development Grants support projects, services or initiatives that build capacity and create opportunities for creative entrepreneurs, their businesses and the sector as a whole. These grants also support initiatives that showcase Toronto’s creative industries, accelerating routes to commercialization and financial sustainability.

      Eligible Initiatives

      Sector-building examples include, but are not limited to initiatives that:

      • Strengthen the broader ecosystem and economic infrastructure of the screen sector, including initiatives that improve industry coordination or develop new business models that increase sector resilience and competitiveness
      • Advance environmentally sustainable and low-carbon practices in the screen sector
      • Support equity‑deserving communities and creatives through systemic or collective approaches
      • Build industry connections and market access for Toronto‑based film and television professionals and companies
      • Create structured opportunities for collaboration between screen‑based companies and adjacent sectors
      • Undertake sector‑wide research, knowledge-building, data collection or new models of business

      Eligible Organizations

      Organizations must:

      • Be located in Toronto or the proposed project or services to be funded will be delivered to Toronto-based entities or individuals.
      • Not be indebted to the City or in default of any agreements with the City.
      • Be a legal not-for-profit or charitable organization, an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization or community centre that is part of the Association of Community Centres.

      Ineligible Initiatives

      This funding does not support:

      • Production companies of filmmakers seeking financing
      • Hiring crew or staff for ongoing operations of private production companies or studios
      • Artistic or talent development for individual artists or performers
      • Production of creative or artistic works.

      For support for these ineligible initiatives, explore the variety of funding offered by Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Creates, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund.

      Initiative Accountability Criteria

      Be prepared to describe in detail how the outcome/impact of your initiative will be measured and the metrics you intend to provide to the City if funded.

      Accountability criteria will be included in the funding agreement for each successful grant applicant. The metrics must be tracked throughout the initiative and reported at its conclusion to receive the final grant payment.

      Suggested metrics:

      • Number of participants served
      • Equity-related metrics
      • Participant satisfaction assessment
      • Engagement of industry through placements, employment or other metrics relevant to the goals of the program
      • Further metrics may be developed on a case-by-case basis or to measure program efficacy over time.

          How to Apply

          Submit an application online below. Applications are considered several times throughout the year. All applications must be submitted through the online portal.

          Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of their proposed event or program start date; however, priority may be given to projects with more immediate start dates. Depending on application volume and project timelines, complete applications may be deferred to a subsequent intake for consideration.

          Available funding is limited and most grants are small. If your project or event is larger in scope and requires more significant funding, please contact the relevant sector office to discuss the project and possible support from these or other funds.

          After your application is submitted, you will be contacted by the related sector office if clarification or additional information is desired. Decisions will generally be communicated within four weeks and decisions are final.

          Apply for Sector Development Grant

          Application Assessment

          Priority is given to organizations that can demonstrate the following criteria:

          • Equity, diversity and inclusion
          • The potential of the program to generate career impact for individuals and the efficacy of the program in serving industry labour demand
          • The capacity of the organization to deliver the program applied for, financially and in terms of human resources, and the organization’s track record and connection to the industries.

          If your organization is producing an event that advances sector development for Toronto’s creative industries, the City of Toronto may be able to support through sponsorship.

          Eligible Initiatives

          Event examples include, but are not limited to initiatives that:

          • Industry conferences, markets, summits or lab days that provide professional development, business development or deal‑making opportunities
          • Film‑focused industry forums, town halls or networking events that build sector knowledge, collaboration and collective capacity
          • Market and showcase events that promote Toronto‑based screen talent, companies and projects to buyers, financiers, distributors or partners
          • Events that advance knowledge‑building and innovation
          • Audience or community‑facing events only where there is a clearly defined industry development component.

          Eligible Organizations

          Organizations must:

          • Be located in Toronto or the proposed project or services to be funded will be delivered to Toronto-based entities or individuals.
          • Not be indebted to the City or in default of any agreements with the City.
          • Be a legal not-for-profit or charitable organization, an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization or community centre that is part of the Association of Community Centres.

          Ineligible Initiatives

          This funding does not support:

          • Audience‑ or community‑facing events where there is no clearly defined industry development component
          • Film festivals or film-screening events seeking general operational, core or programming funding for their overall festival or season; Film festivals should generally apply for support for their industry‑focused, sector‑growth programs rather than the festival as a whole
          • Production companies or filmmakers seeking event‑style financing for their own productions (e.g. film premieres)
          • Hiring festival or event staff, or covering ongoing organizational operating costs where the goal is to support operations rather than industry or sector growth.

          For support for these ineligible initiatives, explore the variety of funding offered by Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Creates, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund.

          Accountability Criteria

          Be prepared to describe in detail how the outcome/impact of your initiative will be measured and the metrics you intend to provide to the City if funded.

          Accountability criteria will be included in the funding agreement for each successful grant applicant. The metrics must be tracked throughout the initiative and reported at its conclusion to receive the final grant payment.

          Suggested metrics:

          • Number of participants served
          • Equity-related metrics
          • Participant satisfaction assessment
          • Engagement of industry through placements, employment or other metrics relevant to the goals of the program
          • Further metrics may be developed on a case-by-case basis or to measure program efficacy over time.

              How to Apply

              Submit an application online below. Applications are considered several times throughout the year. All applications must be submitted through the online portal.

              Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of their proposed event or program start date; however, priority may be given to projects with more immediate start dates. Depending on application volume and project timelines, complete applications may be deferred to a subsequent intake for consideration.

              Available funding is limited and most grants are small. If your project or event is larger in scope and requires more significant funding, please contact the relevant sector office to discuss the project and possible support from these or other funds.

              After your application is submitted, you will be contacted by the related sector office if clarification or additional information is desired. Decisions will generally be communicated within four weeks and decisions are final.

              Apply for Sponsorship

              Application Assessment

              Priority is given to organizations that can demonstrate the following criteria:

              • Equity, diversity and inclusion
              • The potential of the program to generate career impact for individuals and the efficacy of the program in serving industry labour demand
              • The capacity of the organization to deliver the program applied for, financially and in terms of human resources, and the organization’s track record and connection to the industries.

              Required Event Deliverable

              The City receives logo presence at all sponsored events and other recognition as appropriate.

              All initiatives or events receiving either a grant or sponsorship must comply with the City’s anti-discrimination and harassment policies.